Poor Market

The Poor Market was a poor neighborhood of Athens, Attica during the 5th century BC. The dilapidated and swampy neighborhood consisted of shanty houses inhabited by the poorest people of Athenian society, and it was crime-ridden, with bandits operating freely in the neighborhood. During the Peloponnesian War, the Athenian politician Kleon was popular among the poor Athenians due to his populist and xenophobic rhetoric attacking Athens' rivals, and due to his promise to "Make Athens Great Again".